By Tabitha Evans Moore
Editor & Publisher
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — It didn’t take long. Jack Daniel’s Special Release Small Batch Rye, which hit the shelves of the distillery’s White Rabbit Bottle Shop on April 21, has already sold out its first batch — with fans lining up at the Lynchburg distillery on Thursday for a shot at one of the most limited whiskey releases to come out of Jack Daniel’s in years.
The good news for those who missed out: more bottles are on the way. The White Rabbit Bottle Shop confirmed it will be releasing additional quantities over the next few weeks.
The release consists of five small batches of barrel-proof Tennessee Rye Whiskey sourced from three distinct barrelhouse locations — Coy Hill, a familiar name among Jack Daniel’s enthusiasts, and two first-time callouts: Boiler Hill and Fire Brigade Fields. A total of 129 barrels, entered between February 2016 and August 2017, were matured for eight to ten years before Master Distiller Chris Fletcher and his team selected them for this release.
The whiskey is presented at barrel proof in 375 mL bottles, with proof points ranging from 142.7 to 146.1 — making it among the highest-proof expressions ever released under the Jack Daniel’s label.
Fletcher, who has championed the distillery’s Tennessee Rye program as one of its most exciting recent innovations, shared his enthusiasm directly with fans ahead of the release.
“One thing that always amazes me about the Jack Daniel Distillery is that even after all these years we still continue to find special barrelhouses that produce whiskey that’s, well, exceptional,” Fletcher wrote. He noted that while Coy Hill is a recognized name, Boiler Hill and Fire Brigade Fields are appearing on a Jack Daniel’s bottle for the first time.
On the whiskey itself, Fletcher described bold aromas of black pepper and burnt oak with notes of spice and caramel, and a finish of light cinnamon, leather, and butterscotch.
Priced at $64.99 per bottle, Jack Daniel’s Special Release Small Batch Rye is available exclusively at the White Rabbit Bottle Shop at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg. The shop has not announced specific dates for upcoming releases, but has indicated bottles will continue to be made available while supplies last over the next several weeks. •
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